PARIS (AP) – Three German swimmers fell ill during the open water events at the Paris Olympics, but it was not immediately clear whether the cause was linked to the Seine’s long-standing pollution.
The athletes were not named in a statement released by the German Olympic Sports Confederation on Saturday, but Leonie Beck confirmed her condition on social media. All three athletes have recovered and are due to return home as scheduled.
Beck, who finished ninth in the 10km race, posted a picture of himself on Instagram giving a thumbs up but looking unwell.
“Yesterday I vomited nine times and had diarrhea,” he wrote, before sarcastically ticking the box “Water quality of the Seine is passable.”
The German committee said in a statement that three of the country’s players were unwell.
“Two German female open water swimmers were treated as outpatients (Friday) with symptoms of nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. They have been feeling much better since this morning,” the statement said. “Another swimmer with similar symptoms is currently under the care of the German team doctor.”
The other German swimmer competing in the women’s open water race was Leonie Martens, who placed 22nd out of 24 swimmers.
Two German swimmers competed in the men’s swimming event, silver medallist Oliver Klemmett and eighth-place finisher Florian Wellbrock, but it was not disclosed which of them received treatment.
Paris organizers and World Aquatics, the open water swimming governing body, released test figures showing the water quality was within acceptable limits considered safe. There was also a back-up plan to move the marathon swimming to the Olympic rowing and canoeing venue if tests showed levels of E. coli and other bacteria exceeded those limits.
The dire situation in Paris. pic.twitter.com/MdG3sCgQc1
—Breitbart News (@BreitbartNews) July 30, 2024
Concerns over long-standing pollution in the Seine, where swimming has been banned for more than a century due to bacteria-ridden waters, came to the fore after Paris organizers announced plans to hold the open water triathlon and swimming events in the iconic river through the heart of the French capital.
Despite a massive and expensive cleanup project, some readings showed unacceptable levels of illness-causing bacteria, leading to the triathlon being rescheduled and one of two open water practice sessions scheduled before the men’s and women’s 10km races being cancelled.
Several athletes fell ill after the triathlon, but it is unclear whether their symptoms were caused by swimming in the Seine.
Beck apparently blames his illness on the river, but the German Olympic Committee said tests showed it was “feasible” to go ahead with both races.
A total of 53 swimmers took part in the open water race, 29 men and 24 women. Most swimmers said the cleanliness of the water was not an issue, although gold medallist Sharon van Rouwendaal of the Netherlands said she got thirsty during the race and took a few sips of river water.
“It was cold,” she said. “It felt good.”
Ireland’s Daniel Wiffen, gold medallist in the 800m freestyle and competing in his first open water race, dismissed concerns about the cleanliness of the waterway, saying readings he saw before the men’s race showed the amount of E. coli in the Seine was lower than what’s typically found in a swimming pool.
The Paris organising committee said in a statement that they had “heard reports about the athlete’s illness and wish him a speedy recovery.”
“At present, we are not aware of any established link between the illness and the quality of the Seine’s water,” the statement said. “On the day of the marathon, the water quality was assessed as ‘very good’ or ‘excellent’ at all four testing points, well below the limits set by FINA.”
World Aquatics deferred comment to Paris organisers.
Video: Canadian triathlete Tyler Mislauchuk vomits after jumping out of the Seine during Paris Olympics https://t.co/ZJWGa0iNkE
— Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) August 1, 2024
